More Bronx residents may soon be eligible to receive food stamps

More Bronx and city residents may soon be eligible to receive food stamps.

According to the New York Times, the Bloomberg administration is moving to loosen a major provision of welfare reform. Currently, approximately 43,000 residents who don?t have children and are ?able-bodied? now use food stamps. If the city is granted a federal waiver, nearly 14,000 more residents could be eligible.

The changes would reportedly affect adults ages 18 to 49 who are not responsible for a child or relative and are not physically or mentally unfit for work. The waiver would extend a three-month time limit to qualify for food stamps in any three-year period. If the government approves the waiver, it will reportedly cost the city almost nothing.